Roomasaarre, Saareema, Estonia

Al Shaheen
John & Jenny Franklin
Mon 23 Jun 2014 20:23
N58:13.03 E022:30.37

We left Leipeja early on Saturday morning 21 June with the intention of going only as far as Ventspils, 55 miles up the coast. The seas in the entrance were very lumpy and unpleasant but soon moderated as we cleared the entrance and bore away northwards in company with Calidris Alba, Tsamaya and Spellbound. The wind was about 5 knots from the WSW so it turned into a day-long motoring trip. We did pole out the genoa at one stage but stll had to keep the engine on tick-over to maintain 5.5 knots.

Once off Ventspils we decided to keep going as conditions were calm and there was no attraction in Ventspils to make a visit worthwhile. This was the longest day and, in these latitudes, there is only about 3 hours of real darkness. It was a quiet night with no traffic, but still no wind so we continued motoring at 5.5 knots using very little diesel.

At 0400 we anchored off Roomasarre on the island of Saareema in Estonia and put our heads down for 3 hours sleep before continuing in to the marina and berthing to finger pontoons. Later, we took a taxi into the nearby Kurasaare and met up with Simon and Janet Fraser (Simoon lV) and the CA rally which was just starting there.

Midsummer and still really cold. We have the diesel heater on tonight!